HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc154-5W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated costs to his Department of bringing forward entitlement to long-term incapacity benefit to the first day of incapacity for people who are terminally ill.

Mr. Hague

We estimate that this would cost around £3 million per annum.

Notes: Estimate expressed in 1993–94 prices, and net of offsetting changes in income related benefit expenditure.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he intends to take to ensure appropriate assessment of the needs of people with mental illness who may be eligible for incapacity benefit.

Mr. Hague

We are seeking the advice of a number of experts in mental illness in designing the new, more objective medical test as it relates to the particular problems of people with mental illness. The proposed arrangements will be evaluated over the summer. When the new test is applied to a person with a diagnosis of mental illness, information and advice will be sought from the claimant's doctors. This will include the claimant's psychiatrist, if one is involved in the case.